THREE CARRIERS RAISE MEDITERRANEAN/U.S. TARIFF RATES

THREE CARRIERS RAISE MEDITERRANEAN/U.S. TARIFF RATES    United States South Europe Conference carriers Maersk Sealand, P&O Nedlloyd and Hapag-Lloyd said they plan to introduce westbound tariff general rate increases in the Mediterranean/U.S. trade, effective June 1.
   The planned increases are $200 per 20-foot container and $250 per 40-foot container.
   “This action follows a recent review of the market and is part of the continuing need to improve the viability of rates to sustain service quality requirements demanded by the trade,” the conference said.
   As usual in the transatlantic trade, tariff rate increases do not directly affect current service contract rates, but they are used as benchmark rates once contracts must be renegotiated.